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Cusco & Sacred Valley Tour Info & Prices
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Cusco - Sacred Valley Faq's
Cusco - Sacred Valley Frequently Asked Questions Note: Some of this Answers are not in any way an 'official' or authoritative FAQ. We take no responsibility for any inaccuracies, or anything that may or may not happen to you as a result of following the suggestions in this FAQ.
1. Why travel to Cusco? 2. Where is located Cusco? 3. I don’t speak Spanish, will that matter? 4. Do I need a Visa to Visit Peru? 5. What kind of credit cards are accepted in Cusco? 6. What is the currency in Peru? 7. What clothes Should I bring? 8. Do I need vaccinations and travel insurance when traveling in Peru? 9. Will I have altitude sickness in Cusco? 10. Is the water fit to drink? 11. Where to stay in Cusco? 12. How is the transportation in Cusco? 13. Is it safe to walk on the streets in Cusco? 14. Is it easy to use internet in Cusco, what about calls? 15. What is the “Boleto Turístico” exactly? 16. What can you say about the Peruvian cuisine?
1.- Why travel to Cusco? The city of Cusco offers you a great variety of experiences in just one destination. Cusco has a diversity of tourist services, a lot of accommodations like hotels and hostels, as well as travel agencies and adventure sports, restaurants, handy crafts, shopping centers, bars and all that you can imagine. Some of the most popular treks are the famous Inca trail, Salcantay trek, Choquequirao trek, and our principal destination in Cusco is one of the new seven wonders world: Machu Picchu.
2.- Where is located Cusco? Cusco is a city located in the south of Peru; at 10826 ft (3300m high) the climate is temperate most of the year during the day, but cold at night. The average temperature is 18ºC (64.5ºF) during the day and 6-7ºC (44ºF) during the night. Called as the Archaeological Capital of the Americas Cusco has a population of About 500,000 inhabitants (2009), is also the tourism capital of South America, it is a beautiful city riddled with contrasts between the indigenous styles and the modern western world.
3.- I don’t speak Spanish, will that matter? Cusco is a tourist place, if you are planning to spend some days in Cusco it could be not a problem to speak Spanish, If you are planning to stay more days in Cusco and know more about our culture we could suggest to study Spanish at Andes Spanish School: www.andesspanishschool.com
4.- Do I need a Visa to Visit Peru? You don’t need a visa if you are from North or South America, Western Europe, Asia or citizens of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. The tourist visa allows you up to a maximum of 180 days in Peru. It is a good idea to make a copy of your passport before arriving in Peru just in case.
5.- What kind of credit cards are accepted in Cusco? Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are welcome in Cusco. There is often an 8-12% commission for all credit card transactions. Traveler checks are accepted too with a 4-5% commission. Credit cards are not commonly accepted in smaller towns or village, so go prepared with cash, remember do not bring broken billets of dollars, the banks and places of changing money here are not changing those billets.
6.- What is the currency in Peru? The “Nuevo Sol” S/ (New Sol) is the official currency of Peru. You can pay in soles or dollars but it is generally easiest to pay in dollars when you don’t have soles, be prepared however to receive your change in Soles when you pay in dollars. You can change money (cash USD or traveler checks) at the banks or at the different “Casas de Cambio” located generally close of the “Plaza de Armas” (main square).
7.- What clothes Should I bring? Remember, Cusco is located at 11000 ft (3300 m) close to the mountains, we recommend layers (polar fleece jacket). Add layers as it becomes cooler and a good waterproof jacket (rainy season: December to February). In Cusco city after the sun went down, it got cold and long pants were necessary.
8.-Do I need vaccinations and travel insurance when traveling in Peru? Yes, before travelling take out medical insurance. Although health care is relatively inexpensive in Peru, it is always advisable to have travel insurance. Make sure it covers all eventualities especially evacuation to your home country, if necessary. Check the current practice in countries you are visiting for Yellow Fever; Hepatitis B; Infectious Hepatitis, Typhoid A; Poliomyelitis; Tetanus. Vaccination against rabies should be considered especially when you stay in remote areas.
9.- Will I have altitude sickness in Cusco? As Cusco is at 11,000 feet above sea level (3300 m), there is a possibility that you will suffer some side effects due to the altitude, heart pounding, shortness of breath, headaches or getting tired very easily are some normal symptoms. To acclimatize It is best to rest some hours after landing, walk slowly, do not make hard physic effort, and drink plenty of fluids (Drinking “mate de coca” an infusion of coca leaves), may help. If you are planning to walk the Inca trail, we recommend to stay at least two days in advance in the city.
10.- Is the water fit to drink? Try to drink bottled water when you stay in Peru. Tap water is not safe, it may cause mild abdominal upset. On camping trips the water is purified with tablets or boiled. One observation regarding Peru is the unavailability of toilet paper in almost all public places. Major hotels and most restaurants will have some, but do not be surprised to go into a public bathroom, such as at Machu Picchu, and find that toilet paper is either unavailable or available only for sale.
11.- Where To stay in Cusco You can find several friendly and helpful guest houses, hostels and hotels in Cusco to satisfy your needs but at more accessible prices, lot of these accommodations are located nearly the “Plaza de Armas” (Main Square). Many hotels are fully booked during the high season: June, July and August, so It's advisable to book in advance at these times and during holidays and local festivals.
12.- How is the transportation in Cusco? They are small by western standards, cheaper but be careful. Normally during the day it is fine to take any taxi in Cusco city, you will definitely be overcharged as a foreign people, the rate is USD $ 1 during the day (6 a.m to 10 p.m) and USD $ 1.5 at night ( 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). However, it will still be cheap. The local bus rate is USD $ 0.3 approx. Some taxi drivers could increase this price if you don’t ask before the price for a ride into the Cusco city (ask and confirm this price to the taxi driver before you take one)
13.- Is it safe to walk on the streets in Cusco?
Yes, it is safe during the daytime, it is important not to go to
desolate places out of Cusco ( to do a hike) if you are on your
own, but with a guide and a group, there is no problem.
14.- Is it easy to use internet in Cusco, what about calls? Internet cafes are very common in Cusco and most of them have DSL or ADSL fast connections. Explorer, Firefox and hotmail are readily available at every internet stop. Expect to pay about USD $ 0.7 dollars for 1 hour of internet time. About calls, long distance phone calls are cheaper, with some calling cards you can make international calls for less than USD $ 0.1 per minute. Calling to Cusco – Peru from abroad: 0051- 84 + # phone
15.- What is the “Boleto Turístico” exactly? This is a ticket which allows you to visit Cusco’s main attractions and surrounding areas, including Inca ruins and some of the major draws in the Sacred Valley. It is important to bring your “Boleto Turistico” to enable access to this sites in City tour or Sacred Valley tour. The ticket is valid for 10 days. You can buy it at the first place you visit or at the public ministry. They have discounts for student with an ISIC Card. A tourist ticket, or “Boleto Turístico, is available for visiting Sacred Valley too.
16.- What can you say about the Peruvian cuisine? Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is on par with French, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Peruvian cuisine combines the flavors of four continents. Some Traditional dishes include: “Ceviche” (raw fish cooked with lemon), “Lomo Saltado” (beef strips stir fried with onion, tomato and cilantro served with white rice), “Anticuchos” (spiced, grilled beef heart), “Papa a la Huancaina” (boiled potato in a cheese and yellow peppers sauce), and others. International foods are available in tourist places. The Peruvian culinary arts are in constant evolution and impossible to list in their entirety.
17.- Where can I get more information about this trip? Just ask us the questions you want answers to! We would appreciate the opportunity to answer any additional questions you might have! our e-mail: info@traveltocusco.org
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